November 2014 – Jenny Davies-Reazor

Hello blog. I have been neglecting you. When I last was here it was for the October COM reveal for Art Jewelry Elements.

Since then I ran away with the faeries:

Witches and faeries

and retreated to the (frigid) beach to immerse myself in seed beads:

bead retreat

I promise more on that later!

Today – I’m actually off at a show as you read this. The holiday show season is in full swing! And the gift making! Oh my. Sprinkle a few custom orders on the top of that – and I hope you understand why I have been neglecting you. Let me show you the eye candy that is the COM. Will that do?

Kristen selected these versatile beaded circles as her component of the month offering! I have worked with these before and love them. They can go in so many direction, so many applications…

beaded circles WIP

My pair was in matte black and silver. They asked to be simple, and a bit celestial. Here is the result:

Nov CoM

Dangles include a sterling spiral, a quartz crystal point and a hematite star on gunmetal chain. They are super light weight – and I think I get to keep them…

Present for me? Hmm. I hope your present making and shopping is going smoothly so far this season!

Please hop over to the blog at Art Jewelry Elements to see the other COM offerings this month!

Until next time…

BOC button

AUCTION! ART CHARMS! BEADS! A WORTHY CAUSE!

I want to introduce you to a new-to-me charity event called Beads of Courage. This year I was able to participate in this fundraiser; raising money for arts-in-medicine programs for children. As an art educator and advocate, I have seen the power that an arts experience can have on a child. At any age, at any time.

The charm swap and auction is a prodigious task, undertaken by Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions. (And my team mate at Art Jewelry Elements.) Participants made a dozen charms (or in my case 2 dozen!) and received an assortment back. Charms by each participant are being auctioned off, NOW! ( Click here.)

Beads of Courage 2014 theme: Soar!

Winged things, flitting, floating. Fairies? or their more earthy cousins – dragonflies and butterflies? Yes! These charms are hand carved, an entirely original offering. These original designs wer sculpted and carved in earthenware clay. A plaster mold preserved the image and multiple new charms can be pressed from soft clay. Each one is hand painted, and customized with “Soar” and date on the back.

Butterflies are symbolic of the soul in many cultures of the world. They are the agents of transformation, and ethereally beautiful. Their delicate wings allow them to flit, fly… and soar. Dragonflies are similar in many ways… and even represented the warrior spirit in Aztec Mexico!

Soar charms

But I was still inspired and signed up to do another batch! These are my newest love: the fusion of polymer and copper!

These unique mixed media charms combine polymer clay and copper. The copper shapes were cut, stamped, polished and tumbled to create the dark glowing patina. The polymer goes through the copper, holding itself in place with rounded top and bottom shapes – like a rivet! Textured impressed in the clay are accented with oils and acrylics.

courage charms